Bean bag chairs absorb everything — spilled juice, pet hair, body oils, and the occasional snack disaster — yet most people have no idea how to actually clean one. Knowing how to clean a bean bag chair starts with identifying two things: what the cover is made of and whether it comes off. Get those right and the rest is straightforward, because nearly every cleaning method follows from the cover and fill type. Toss the wrong cover in the wash, though, and you can shrink it, fade it, or end up with a soggy mess of beads. Here is how to do it properly.
Step One: Check the Care Tag and Cover Type
Before anything else, find the manufacturer’s care label and follow it — it overrides general advice. Then determine whether your chair has a removable cover (usually with a zipper) or a fixed, sewn-shut cover. This single distinction decides your entire approach.
Note the cover fabric too. Cotton, polyester, suede, faux leather, fur, and nylon all behave differently. A machine-washable cotton cover is forgiving; suede and faux leather need spot cleaning only.
Cleaning a Removable Cover
If your chair has a zippered, removable cover, you are in luck — this is the easiest type to clean. Unzip and remove the cover carefully, keeping the fill bag inside intact (more on the beads below). Check the care tag for machine-wash instructions.
Most washable covers do best in cold water on a gentle cycle with a mild detergent. Wash similar colors together and skip fabric softener if the cover has any water-resistant treatment. Crucially, air-dry the cover whenever possible — high dryer heat can shrink fabric and ruin the fit. If the tag permits a dryer, use low or no heat and remove the cover while slightly damp to reduce wrinkling.
Spot-Cleaning a Fixed Cover
For chairs with a sewn-shut cover, or for delicate fabrics like suede and faux leather, spot cleaning is the way to go. Blot spills immediately — do not rub, which pushes stains deeper. Mix a little mild soap with water, dab a clean cloth into the solution, and gently work the stain from the outside in.
Wipe with a clean damp cloth to remove soap residue, then blot dry with a towel. Let the chair air-dry completely before use. For faux leather, a damp cloth with a drop of mild soap usually suffices; for suede, use a dedicated suede brush and a suede-safe cleaner rather than water, which can stain it.
Handling Different Cover Fabrics
- Cotton and polyester — usually machine washable; check the tag and air-dry
- Nylon — often wipes clean with a damp cloth; durable and water-resistant
- Faux leather (vinyl) — wipe with a damp cloth and mild soap; never machine wash
- Suede — brush dry, use a suede cleaner; keep water to a minimum
- Faux fur — spot clean gently and brush to restore the nap; avoid heat
Caring for the Bead Fill
The fill is almost always expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads, and it should never go through a regular wash or get soaked. Water makes the beads clump, can introduce mold, and creates an enormous static mess. If your cover is removable, transfer the beads into the inner liner bag (or a separate sealed bag) before washing the cover, and keep them dry.
If beads get damp, spread them out to air-dry fully before returning them to the chair. Over years, beads compress and the chair goes flat — when that happens, you refill rather than wash. Pour replacement beads slowly with both bags zipped together to control the static and avoid spills.
Dealing with Odors and Pet Hair
For musty smells, sprinkle baking soda over the cover, let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes, then vacuum it off — a simple, safe deodorizer for most fabrics. Air the chair out in a well-ventilated spot, and avoid masking odors with heavy sprays that can stain.
For pet hair, a vacuum with an upholstery attachment or a lint roller works well on most covers. A rubber pet-hair brush is especially effective on woven and fur covers where hair clings stubbornly.
Tips to Keep It Cleaner Longer
A few habits cut down how often you need to deep clean. Use a washable throw or a second slipcover over the chair if it sees heavy use or shared space with pets. Treat spills the moment they happen — fresh stains lift far more easily than set ones. Vacuum the cover periodically to keep dust and crumbs from working into the fabric. And keep the chair out of direct, prolonged sunlight, which fades covers and can make fabric brittle over time.
Deep Cleaning a Whole Chair
Once or twice a year, give the chair a thorough refresh beyond routine spot cleaning. Vacuum the entire cover, including seams and crevices where crumbs and dust hide. If the cover is removable and washable, wash it during this deep clean. For fixed covers, work over the whole surface with a damp cloth and mild soap, section by section, rather than just hitting visible stains.
This is also a good time to check the inner liner and seams for any signs of wear, and to confirm the fill is still holding its shape. Addressing small issues now — a loose seam, a thinning cover, compressed beads — keeps the chair comfortable and prevents bigger problems down the line.
Drying It Properly
Proper drying is just as important as the cleaning itself, because trapped moisture is what breeds mold and odor. After any wet cleaning, never reassemble or use the chair until it is completely dry. Air-dry covers in a well-ventilated spot, ideally out of harsh direct sun that can fade fabric. If you spot-cleaned a fixed cover, prop the chair so air circulates around the damp area and let it dry fully before sitting on it. For removable covers, make sure both the cover and the inner liner are bone-dry before you load the beads back in — sealing damp fabric around foam beads is a recipe for a musty chair.
The Bottom Line
Cleaning a bean bag chair comes down to two questions: what is the cover made of, and does it come off. Machine-wash removable covers in cold water and air-dry them, spot-clean fixed or delicate covers with mild soap, and always keep the foam beads dry. Follow the care tag, act fast on spills, and your bean bag chair will stay fresh and comfortable for years.
